I haven't mentioned Zaadz for awhile - but I am really liking the feature zPages and zBooks.

There are two reasons why:

a.  The tag implementation.  C4 I'm sure has explained this better than I can, but think of it as a graphical representation of what is most popular.  But implemented as a tag cloud, you don't only see the "top results", you see a whole "sky" of results, with the popularity being instantly visually recognizable.  (And since the tag cloud is a visual medium, immediately you perceive EACH tag in it's popularity.)

This in itself is a Wisdom of the Crowds implementation. as users tag what they like.  In addition however, you also get favorites -what people like, and reviews. What is favorite, what is top in currently reading, and the reviews, are all USER-CREATED content.  This means there are three levels of wisdom of the crowds here.

Same thing with zPages.  You start with a tag cloud, indicating the greater number of events, based on a particular tag.  This will indicate a tag you like, or that is frequently used.

In addition, once you click on the tag - say "life coaching" - you then are brought to a listing of people, businesses, that exist in YOUR area.

AND, these businesses are reviewed by users - with a scale, and with personal review.

Of course, the biggest to-do is for people to TAG and RATE people and businesses that you either LOVE or HATE. (And there must be a place for hate, right?)

Funny enough, there is a "Hollis Polk"  - psychic, spiritual counselor, life coaching, etc - that has three reviews on Zaadz right now, all positive.  Now three isn't a lot - friends could be bum-rushing the system with three - but, the reviews are glowing, and at this point, it is one of the more numerous reviews in San Francisco.

I hope more people begin utilizing this.  If you have a great group of 10000 people consistently utilizing, tagging, rating, and reviewing practices, books, people and places, that have improved their own life - well, the cream of the crop rises to the top, without effort.

I wanted something LIKE this - as you can see in this post - that post is from a year and a half ago - but the visual tag cloud implementation, and the different ways that one rates, is better than my initial contemplation!

At any rate, you will see me tagging up a storm over on Zaadz.  I'll keep you informed of how it is going.

Cross-posted at Zaadz

If 2nd tier makes any sense, then the question is raised - what are integral values, as opposed, or differentiated, from regular values?

It's a very important idea to adhere - to varying degrees - to a sense of internal values, and live one's life by those values. 

I would argue we are doing that all the time anyway - the Atman Project right? - whether it is following desires, attempting to get a good job, looking for love, or explicitly looking for the Divine.  (Or explicitly "dropping" looking for the Divine.)

I didn't get any feedback the other day on this question, so I thought I would post it again - separate from the analysis of a Ken Wilber post.  Tuff Ghost makes the valid point that the values of 2nd Tier might not be noticeably differernt from the ordinary run of values. 

However, I want to run this thought experiment.  What ARE some integral values?  So, But I will look at it, by coming up with mine!

Integral Value One:  Recognizing that there are a multiplicity of values, of which MANY - but NOT all - have some implicit and explicit truth. and value.

The quest for God has value, the quest for scientific truth has value, the quest for integration has value, the quest for creative expression has value, and the quest for a better social order has value, and the quest for harmonious, deep, interpersonal relationships has value.

Integral Value Two:  Say Yes To Meaning

or find and create meaning in how you live.   

Whether you find meaning in your creative work, in your family, or in your God, or in simply resting in PEACE - find a YES, for your pursuit, internally, and for life.  "He not busy being born is busy dying", for a wonderful quote by a famous singer.

Of course, this can be pretty difficult for those with traumatic experiences, either in childhood or some time in life.  (It doesn't help to tell a suicidal person "have a nice day", as an example.)  In this case of course, get help. 

Integral Value Three:  Contribute Back to the Larger Community, to Life. 

There has been enough of boomerism, narcissism, etc.  An integral person recognized the value of others, the value of a larger community, and gives back TO this community.  I would say the basis of this for myself, is recognition and space for the Divine - but integral can proceed for agnostics as well, in the commitment to LIFE.  On a profound level, THERE IS NO SEPARATION.

Integral Value Four:  Practical Balancing. 

Or "The Golden Mean"
Or "The Middle Way". 

This isn't an absolute, of course - at any moment you may be called on to sacrifice for one of the above three values (children, community, country, a 3 year religious retreat), and that of course overrides balancing one's life.  But finding the right balance, as a general rule, is a value of integral.

This particular value becomes very important for those of us who have analytical tendencies.  What are the social structures that most promotes the above values?  What type of goverments promote both stability, freedom, a sound and dynamic economic base, individual experimentations and creativity, and appropriate sharing of resources among all? How to create an environment for individuals to be challenged, but not overwhelmed?

Just because I can, I place all science, social science, economics, etc, in this particular realm...

Integral Value Five:  The Now, Forward Movement, and Acceptance

Someone needs to make this particular value more pithy (any takers for a better expression?), but here is what I mean.

Acceptance for the moment.  And for yourself, and others.  THIS moment, now, pregnant with all possibilities, is as it is.
Moving forward - in this moment, this perfect moment, there is still movement.  Move forward actively with what NEEDS to be done, and what you are called to do: building, fixing, loving, caring, participating, creating, opposing when necessary, defending when you must.  But hold it lightly, (when possible) at peace in this moment.


Now that I read this over, some of this sounds a bit hokey.  But that's okay.  I am a regular guy of limited means, and this is what I got! 

Those of you who are smarter, more productive, more  inspiring...

Why don't YOU take your stab?

What are integral values to YOU?


Also posted at Zaadz

Had a very good Ken Wilber MeetUp yesterday.  (Funny enough,  the topic ended up being "self-development" in various areas, with only a loose association to Ken Wilber).

What was fascinating was the  type of open-source  bull session that we had.  We took 6 different areas of life, and discussed people's experiences of skill, competency, experience, in those areas.

Simply by doing this, every person (we had about 11) was "litup" by at least one area of life, shared a great book/story, and was able to engage meaningfully with the rest of the group.  This encouragement of pooled knowledge, was a lot of fun. (As were some of the wry, and wise, stories.)

By the end, everyone was fairly loose, engaged, and contributing - which is all one can really ask, I think.

Today of course, is 5 years since 9/11.  I'm not sure how other people marked this occasion.  I spent some time this morning in meditation and prayer, wishing, visualizing peace for all people.

At the same time, practically, I have to acknowledge, that the world doesn't seem a safer place than it was five years ago.  The various tensions that mark the world stage, have only increased in that time.

So what has integral theory given to this, this improvement in society's fortunes, it's contributions to reducing violence, creating more peace?

It's hard for me to look for any specific or original contribution of "integral theory".  Ken Wilber has been working on "The Many Faces of Terrorism" for awhile now - I'm assuming shortly after 9/11 - but on his official site, no word of any progress on this since he wrote on the official site:

I’ve almost finished a new book entitled The Deconstruction of the World Trade Center—The Many Faces of Terrorism.  I will also keep you posted on its progress here on this site.

And that was written as of September 13, 2004.

Still, outside of any official integral theory, the integral attitude - with an open heart, a clear mind, a deep care, and practical passion, while being open to the many perspectives of the world, and coming to solutions based on a correct VALUING of all perspectives (not treating all as equal) - I see that approach still giving some of the best contributions. 

CJ Smith has been one of the better blogsites tracking the integral approach on the leading edge, but not tied to any particular theory.  Followed by Tuff Ghost.

And I'm sure that there is more, that I am missing. 

In the end, the "integral project" ends up BEING this integral attitude.  Formulating actions based on the perceptions and revelations in all fields - the practical (scientific, business, power relations), the humanities (societal goods of stability, freedom, pursuit of happiness, etc), and the religious (practice, prayer, interconnectedness of all beings).

To this, I dedicate this day.  May all beings advance in their lives, with passion, practicality, joy, and love - and may this all express in wise action, leading to great peace.

Here is the link.   more »

A good case for this is made here!